Warren calls use of chemical weapons “reprehensible” but voices concern on arms

Senator Elizabeth Warren on Saturday night called Syrian President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons “reprehensible,” but warned that without clear goals, America could risk getting bogged down in another Middle East war.

Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, made the comments in a written statement to the Globe, a day after the newspaper made several requests to learn her view of President Obama’s decision to help the rebels with arms.

Warren, in her carefully worded statement, did not specifically condone or condemn the actions. He spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request to clarify.

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“Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own people is reprehensible,” Warren wrote. “The Administration has responded by providing direct aid to the opposition forces, and while I hope that this new aid will help opponents challenge the regime, I am deeply concerned that our aid might have unintended consequences. We need clear goals and a plan to achieve them or else the United States could get bogged down in another war in the Middle East.”